When Small Mistakes Are A Big Problem (Warriors 100, Mavs 105)

Famed conductor Bruno Walter once observed that “by concentrating on precision, one arrives at technique, but by concentrating on technique one does not arrive at precision.” The Warriors made big strides in their technique in their 100-105 road loss to the Mavs Tuesday night — moving the ball well, attacking weaknesses in the defense and going to the hot hand — but they’re still not concentrating on precision. When the game hung in the balance in the final minutes, the team repeatedly struggled to execute and squandered any chance at a win through turnovers at the worst possible times. The closeness of the game was no doubt an improvement over some of the poor road outings we’ve seen this season, but the scoreboard shouldn’t mask the still-significant gap between the Warriors and the NBA’s best. We’re witnessing a team struggling to adopt not only a new, tougher-to-master system, but also new, tougher-to-meet expectations.

Before delving too deep into what was lacking from Tuesday’s performance, it’s important to note what returned: energy. From Wright’s defensive activity, to Ellis attacking the rim, to Biedrins actually bumping guys off the post with a few offensive moves, the team had an extra spring in its step. Coming off the Thunder game where the team stumbled early, then gained momentum late, it was nice to see the carry-over of effort into this game. But effort alone won’t get you past the NBA’s hottest team. The extra bounce the Warriors showed may be enough to beat average teams — say the Suns at home from last Thursday when the Warriors looked totally lifeless — but it takes more to beat a deep, seasoned roster like the current Mavs’ squad. Even executing at a high level, the Warriors may not have had enough firepower to make this a winnable game. But with careless errors and sloppy execution, there was little chance they’d find a way to steal a win once things got heavy late in the fourth.

The Warriors were in this game to start with largely because they were moving the ball well to open shooters. Ellis played the drive-and-kick to perfection in the third quarter to snag some easy points for the team. Lee did a nice job again swinging the ball from the high-post to open shooters at the arc. The entire team worked to get Curry looks when he was particularly hot in the first quarter. Everything clicked for awhile — particularly when the team played a little defense, as it did in the third, to help trigger some easy fast-break baskets.

But when crunch time rolled around, the tempo of the game slowed down and the Mavs’ defense ramped up. The Warriors had a few disastrous possessions in the final minutes as the game shifted to half-court sets. On one of them, Curry dribbled further and further away from the basket as the rest of the Warriors struggled to get into any sort of possession to help with picks or passing lanes. On another, the team executed the set so mechanically that everyone in the building knew where Curry was going with the ball when it came time to dump it. A few other possessions ended in quick no-pass jumpers, with the entire team seemingly rushing to avoid having to operate in the half-court the same way Biedrins was rushing around the basket earlier this season to avoid a trip to the line. If this team is going to win games against good teams — particularly on the road — they need to demonstrate that they can elevate their game above the mistake-prone, every-man-for-himself basketball we’ve seen this season when things get tough. It won’t be an overnight change and there are already signs of improvement, but games like this are a reminder of what separates the “scrappy upstarts looking to steal a game” from the basketball juggernauts that run off double-digit win streaks.

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A few quick individual notes:

Lou Amundson made his regular season Warriors’ debut and already looks like he’ll be a contributor. With Amundson, the beauty is in the details, and there was lots of pretty play on display against the Mavs. He has great help-defense instincts, recognizing when he needs to roll over to cut off the lane and when he’s better off staying home. His activity on the offensive glass doesn’t just produce rebounds for himself, but also loose balls that others (like David Lee) can recover and turn into points. He’s comfortable running the floor and quick enough to get out of the way when Ellis or Curry comes barreling down the lane. Ultimately he’s an energy guy that will do the little things, but the Warriors have been sorely lacking both qualities in the last few weeks.

Whatever got into Dorell Wright before Tuesday’s game, let’s hope it’s not a one-off event. Wright was as aggressive as I’ve seen him this year, particularly in the first half of the game. He attacked the rim a few times, refused to settle for just sitting at the arc waiting for shots and mixed it up in the key for rebounds and blocks. Although he’s been a consistently solid help defender all year, his man-to-man defense Tuesday was also stellar. Wright’s still just 20 games into his second life as an NBA player. Hopefully the spells of passive play become less and less frequent as he figures out that he has the natural ability and skills to play like this on most nights.

Curry had a nice shooting night but again made costly turnovers down the stretch through forced or careless plays. These types of mistakes have been a recurring theme this season and it’s one that’s unlikely to go away so long as Curry runs the Warriors’ offense fast and loose in crunch time. He’s struggled to create for others in the half-court offense that gets played at the end of games against good NBA teams. He may be able to get up his own shot, but he and the other Warriors need to find ways to manufacture good shots. They can’t just take whatever opponents will give them. There was one very small sign, however, that I found encouraging. In the first half Curry had a careless turnover followed the next possession by a spectacular fast-break, alley-opp assist. The Mavs called an immediate time-out afterwards and as the camera caught Curry walking off the court, he wasn’t celebrating the most recent dunk, but was still churning over the earlier mistake. Being frustrated and angered by those mistakes is the first step to fixing them. It was important to see that Curry didn’t think a costly error following by highlight material was “good enough.”

Vlad Radmanovic’s limited run to start the fourth quarter was predictably disastrous and the reports that he dropped an expletive-laden practice pep-talk/call-out rant during the Warriors’ off day were met with smirks (or at least the online equivalent). But easy punchlines aside, Radmanovic actually may be the right guy to give that talk. Radmanovic’s time with the Lakers gave him exposure to a system that doesn’t tolerate poor execution. That’s a big part of the reason Radmanovic is no longer part of that system, but it doesn’t mean that he didn’t recognize the intensity and competitive focus that was present on those Lakers teams. The rest of the Warriors’ vets aren’t exactly winners — Ellis, Biedrins and Curry have spent their entire careers with the Warriors and David Lee’s Knicks were nearly as big a mess as Golden State during his tenure. If anyone on this squad is going to judge the current Warriors against a respect-worthy standard — to explain to the team what winners do that they’re not doing — Radmanovic oddly enough might be that guy. That’s a not so much an endorsement of him in the role as a condemnation of the current roster for its near complete lack of gamers. Still, when you’re trying to bring about a change in culture, even the little things — like Gadzuric’s physical, high-energy and increasingly consistent minutes — make a difference. Someone needs to give the Warriors the “here’s what it takes” talk based on personal experience — or at least personal observation. Radmanovic sadly may be the best guy for the job.

So as the Warriors continue their downward spiral around this tough stretch of schedule, it’s easy and understandable to focus on technique. Are the Warriors running enough? Do they have any real guidance for how to play in the half-court? Are they playing the right defensive match-ups? Do the substitution patterns make sense? All good questions, no doubt, but these losses drive home more fundamental goals for the season. It doesn’t matter how good your plays are on a whiteboard if the players can’t execute them. Instituting a running game does nothing for a team that’s inherently sluggish. The best defensive schemes in the world won’t help if player’s think their lost man is someone else’s problem to clean up. Whatever systems they ultimately put in place, the Warriors need to become a more precise, energized, and accountable team. Games like the loss to the Mavs are mixed bags — showing flashes of improvement, but ultimately reminding us that there’s still a long way to go.

Adam Lauridsen

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Oh yes, and not the benefit of any college play, let alone 3 years of it. Straight from H.S. to the NBA and starting and MIP in what would have been only his sophomore year in college. What a dummy Mully was and how briliant you are G.O.

Now to bed where I’ll have to miss out on your bon twits.

Tiger

Professor James Lull on Jeremy Lin:

“Any doubts I had about his NBA-ready status dissolved within a few minutes.”

G.O.

Meir;
On post #397; you stated that Monta developed that nice 3pt shot; and was player of the month of Feb; shooting 60%. Was that in HIGH SCHOOL? NBA 3pt % STATS:
05-06 .341
06-07 .273 And you call that SHOOTING?
07-08 .231
08-09 .308 Curry; Career .435; plus about 90% freethrow
09-10 .338
10-11 .345

dr_john, thanks for mentioning those basketball sites re stats. Pretty amazing stuff on there.
Who knew that Jeremy Lin, for example, is rated 15 slots higher on the Season Wins Produced List for point guards than…Acie Law…

dr_john

It’s not hard to “get” that Monta was a good 2nd round pick. That’s why you don’t undervalue talent if you need it.

Instead of Diogu/Ellis/Taft the dubs might have had Bynum/Granger/Lee(one only) plus Williams and Blatche, for example.

Hindsight is not a reason to pump the chest or beat each other up.

monsta

Hey, sorry to interrupt the Kyle Weaver/Acie Law smackdown, but I have a real question, and I’m serious:

Why is David Lee allowed to play basketball?

I know he’s a gamer. I know the Warriors are short-handed. They need him. But listen to this:

“It hurt really badly after (Tuesday’s) game,” Lee said before Wednesday’s game. “It was a blood bath when I took my elbow pad and tape off. The wound itself really isn’t improving too much, because I’m continuing to play on it.”

Yes, he finished that quote by saying there’s no way he’s missing games. You gotta love him for that.

But yes, WAY, he’s missing games.

Isn’t this the W’s 80 million dollar man? The future of the team, right? So when he can’t bend his elbow properly, when it’s excruciatingly painful when his elbow gets hit, when it’s a blood bath on his elbow after a game, when it’s not healing cuz he’s playing, then

WHY IS HE PLAYING?

Get him out of there. Let him heal.

While you’re at it, let Curry’s ankle heal — so that he doesn’t hurt it again while he’s just dribbling up the court.

So you think maybe there’s no long-term repercussions if Lee plays? My ass. You don’t mess with staph infections of the bone. You love the guy’s moxie and you make the adult decision and you make your $80-million-man take a seat.

Friday

Good food for thought monsta….(does this get back to the trainers being X or management?).
One thing I noticed purely from tv, is that it seemed that Lee had taken Adrien under his wing. They had some kinda pre game ritual where I think he talked to him last before going out there? (hard to tell from the couch as the camera doesn’t exactly stay in one place very long at that point – anyone who sits near the bench seen what i’m talking about?) …and Adrien smiled a lot when Lee got in that last word. They seemed to have a nice connection.
To your point about sitting Lee, even with Lou and EU coming back, it would have been nice to keep JA and move Brandon for a second round pick to make room; I would have been down with that.

G.O.

Staph infections are killers. I got a staph infection from having water on the knee drained in my doctors office. a week later I woke up with my knee red not. Went into the hospital for iv of the stongest antibiotics for 3 days. After 3 days; The infection specialist said this is not working and operated immediately. I spent 6 more days in the hospital. Lost 12 pounds; and almost died.
Why are crazy; doing this!!!

dr_john

I’d take Musselman and Elie, just because they both have DUI’s and need redemption.

No, really, because Musselman tried to reach Dampier with books, and stories. And because he played with Mike Brown, and was coached by Hank Egan.

Even Phil Jackson would push this one off on Andrew Bynum (who could be ours):

ENDURANCE: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing

So when you’re having a bad year—read this. Even if you don’t like Sacred Hoops.

meir34

GO where do you get your shooting stats. Everything I said was true and confirmable and I give my cites for stats. According to Jim B from Jan 1 to a point just about when he got injured his numbers went from 43 to 33 and had been shooting in that period 43%. He trailed off after the injury and finished about 34% He hit a key 3 only to have Curry throw the ball away on the trip.

I just got up and you seem determined to knock Monta. Your call. Every single point and honor I spoke of is true and verifiable, some probably by even people here.

What is also true is
Curry’s a to to ratio, which is very bad for a starting pg in the NBA-doubt you could rationalize those away, but creativity does wonders.
I gave the Fox news cite, do the a to to list, and count back because the nubers are inverse to ranking.

Ask any coach how they prepare for the Warriors and the first thing that comes out is Monta Ellis. He regularly draws 2 and pulls off one or two big guys on many drives, allowing him to kick it out or flip it low depending on whose open and where. How do you think he gets an assist number of 5 a game playing mostly as a 2 guard?

It no use talking to you, you have your answer on the two and then try to -pick out what you can that supports your theses and ignore those that don’t. Anyone can {“prove” almost anything with that kind of methodology. Just curious where were you on the BW and AR controversies? And why don’t you own up to your other regular poster screen name? He’s hitting 47.3 pc of his shots this year UP even from his huge scoring year last year. You can’t read or just like to argue lies? And his 3 shot has increased each of his three years shown.

You are so sure of his passing and assists that you don’t look at comparatives. He’s one of the best high scoring players in setting up other guys in the entire league and you don’t even notice that. Go take your curry baby love card out and come back in and go to Yahoo, NBA/ Players/enter name/press enter. Go to assists for the year.

meir34

Not only is he one of the very best scorers in the league, for his position and scoring he’s one of the greatest in assists, one of the best in steals per game and gives lion minutes.

Now let’s ignore all that and look at his shooting percentage or some such.

But in judging a pg lets throw out Currys sad assist to turnvoer numbers and embarassing number of trips to the line-even wtih those deliberate fouls at the end of the game thrown in. Better to note his high foul shooting percentage–now if only he could get to the line more often as the top pgs do and we might turn some of these games around.

G.O.

Meir @409
You are right; Montas 3pt % has gone up each of the last 3 years; from .308; .338; to .345 this year. With a career avg of .314. And the .345 sucks; especially for someone that shot more shots per game last year then anyone; including’ Wade ; Coby; Laquit; and Durant.

Your trade bait; Curry was @ .437 as a rookie; and is their again. With a NBA rookie record 166 made last year.